Today, On 5th August, The Supreme Court extended the tenure of the Justice Gita Mittal committee by six months in relation to the Manipur violence case. This extension allows the committee more time to investigate and address the ongoing issues.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, On Monday, extended the tenure of the Justice Gita Mittal committee by six months. This committee established to supervise the relief and rehabilitation efforts for victims of the ethnic violence in Manipur.
A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra made the decision after being informed that the panel’s tenure had ended on July 15.
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The bench stated,
“The committee chaired by Justice Gita Mittal stands extended by six months.”
On August 7 of last year, the Supreme Court bench ordered the establishment of a committee comprising three former high court judges to oversee the relief and rehabilitation efforts for victims of the ethnic violence in Manipur.
The committee also tasked with ensuring compensation for the victims. Additionally, the court appointed former Maharashtra police chief Dattatray Padsalgikar to monitor the investigations into the related criminal cases.
This committee, led by former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Gita Mittal, includes Justice (retired) Shalini P. Joshi, a former judge of the Bombay High Court, and Justice (retired) Asha Menon, a former judge of the Delhi High Court. The panel was given the authority to submit its reports directly to the Supreme Court, which is actively monitoring the cases connected to the ethnic strife.
The three-member panel was formed shortly after the Supreme Court expressed its deep concern over a video showing women being paraded naked in Manipur, describing the incident as “deeply disturbing.”
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Since the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023, triggered by a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in the hill districts protesting the majority Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status, more than 200 people have been killed, several hundred injured, and thousands displaced.
The situation in Manipur remains tense, with ongoing efforts to provide relief and rehabilitation to those affected by the violence.
The Supreme Court‘s decision to extend the committee’s tenure highlights the critical need for sustained efforts in addressing the aftermath of the violence, ensuring justice, and facilitating the rehabilitation of affected individuals. The committee is authorized to submit its findings directly to the Supreme Court, which continues to monitor the ongoing situation closely.